lubing cases/dies

jmccracken1214

jmccracken1214

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Im new to reloading.

Do you need to lube the cases everytime theyre going into a die? I lubed them, sized/decapped... then cleaned them. Will I need to spray lube on them again before seating bullets?

Also, dies... do I need to spray them as well? i took them apart and cleaned with brake cleaner when I got them and sprayed them with lube... just dont want any stuck casings.
 
If you are new, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND a rat tail file or metal punches to put witness marks on the die rings, lock nuts and screws once you have your dies set up. paint and fingernail polish are fine, but do not stand up too well to brake cleaner, etc. when cleaning. The witness marks will greatly accelerate getting the dies back to the proper settings after cleaning and indicate if anything is coming lose during the loading process.

I learned this lesson a long time ago while loading pistol. The sizing dies worked lose and backed out about a half turn. It was enough to cause serious feeding problems with about 5% of my loads. So I had to "plunk test 600 rounds" and then suffer through taking down the 30 or so rounds that were not resized properly. It is an even bigger deal with resizing rifle brass.
 
I just lube when de priming/resizing rifle. Currently I'm just putting 20 or so brass in a ziplock bag, giving it a shot of CLP, rolling them around in the bag to coat, and re sizing. Much faster way to lube cases. And the shot of CLP in the bag is good for 50-75 cases but I do them 20 or so at a time so they get coated. On the hunt for a better/cheaper lube. But the CLP works well for now.
 
chiefjason said:
I just lube when de priming/resizing rifle. Currently I'm just putting 20 or so brass in a ziplock bag, giving it a shot of CLP, rolling them around in the bag to coat, and re sizing. Much faster way to lube cases. And the shot of CLP in the bag is good for 50-75 cases but I do them 20 or so at a time so they get coated. On the hunt for a better/cheaper lube. But the CLP works well for now.
Click to expand...
Better / cheaper lube is lanolin alcohol. Get the red HEET at walmart clearance and $7 bottle of liquid lanolin. 10:1 in a sprayer and you have a ton of lube
 
I've been using Royal case lube spray. I have a cardboard top from a paper box that I can lay a couple hundred or so 223 cases in, and I spray them and roll them around some. Never a problem.

If I'm just doing 50 rounds or less, I use Imperial sizing wax and just lube each one with my fingers.
 
Ikarus1 said:
Better / cheaper lube is lanolin alcohol. Get the red HEET at walmart clearance and $7 bottle of liquid lanolin. 10:1 in a sprayer and you have a ton of lube
Click to expand...

Took a while to find the lanolin. Found a tube in the breast feeding section. Got home and found out my wife still had some too. Basically one tube and one bottle of HEET into a spray bottle gets close to 10:1. Going to keep an eye out for a better/larger/cheaper source. Couldn't find it by the jar in lotions or baby, just the 1.3 oz tube.
 
jmccracken1214 said:
Im new to reloading.

Do you need to lube the cases everytime theyre going into a die? I lubed them, sized/decapped... then cleaned them. Will I need to spray lube on them again before seating bullets?

Also, dies... do I need to spray them as well? i took them apart and cleaned with brake cleaner when I got them and sprayed them with lube... just dont want any stuck casings.
Click to expand...

You generally don't need to lube the dies, however after cleaning them - yes.
Occasionally...... you will need to take then apart and clean them like you did when they were new. Reloading dies generally don't need to be cleaned too often..... Just check them out after loading 2k rounds or so and see what you think. Lubing to inside walls of the dies with a QTip once a year so so is good enough for rust prevention, that way you don't have to disassemble the dies.

With rifle brass.... lube the outside of the case and inside the neck of the case.
 
BowWow said:
You generally don't need to lube the dies, however after cleaning them - yes.
Occasionally...... you will need to take then apart and clean them like you did when they were new. Reloading dies generally don't need to be cleaned too often..... Just check them out after loading 2k rounds or so and see what you think. Lubing to inside walls of the dies with a QTip once a year so so is good enough for rust prevention, that way you don't have to disassemble the dies.

With rifle brass.... lube the outside of the case and inside the neck of the case.
Click to expand...

I tumbled the cases, then lubed them, deprimed and resized, then cleaned in ultrasonic cleaner to remove lube.

So to seat the bullets, no more lube needs to be put on anything?
 
chiefjason said:
Took a while to find the lanolin. Found a tube in the breast feeding section. Got home and found out my wife still had some too. Basically one tube and one bottle of HEET into a spray bottle gets close to 10:1. Going to keep an eye out for a better/larger/cheaper source. Couldn't find it by the jar in lotions or baby, just the 1.3 oz tube.
Click to expand...
Thats the thicker stuff. You may have to melt or warm it up to mix with the NaOh. Here is what I use and you may find it at home health and beauty stores

Home Health Liquid Lanolin, 4 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014AWF0S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eKgmzbY6JAMEM

What you are basically creating is exactly what is found in Dillons case resizinf lube. Its safe on skin which is more than can be said for most gun related products (besides FireClean aka Veggie Oil and Froglube aka Coconut oil)
 
Ikarus1 said:
Thats the thicker stuff. You may have to melt or warm it up to mix with the NaOh. Here is what I use and you may find it at home health and beauty stores

Home Health Liquid Lanolin, 4 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014AWF0S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eKgmzbY6JAMEM

What you are basically creating is exactly what is found in Dillons case resizinf lube. Its safe on skin which is more than can be said for most gun related products (besides FireClean aka Veggie Oil and Froglube aka Coconut oil)
Click to expand...

Cheapest and best bet is to order that on amazon. I was going to but my friend gave me a new can of hornady case lube. When thats close to running out, I plan to make my own too. I think it was like 64oz if you made your own for $12-$14 vs $10 for 10 oz of name brand stuff.
 
Ikarus1 said:
Better / cheaper lube is lanolin alcohol. Get the red HEET at walmart clearance and $7 bottle of liquid lanolin. 10:1 in a sprayer and you have a ton of lube
Click to expand...


I am using the last couple bottles of RCBS spray lube I have, then I have a bunch of liquid lanolin and 99% ISO I got from amazon awaiting
 
I hated the Dillon lanolin. I think it's lanolin. Gunked up dies and magazines. I would consider using it only in my dry media while tumbling or something.

I have found One Shot to be much better. Just a quick spray on 200-300 cases and it evaporates away and leaves a dry lube. Just my opinion.
 
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